Displaced communities, environmental degradation and sustainable livelihoods in Uganda

A collaboration between Makerere University, Uganda and University of Dundee, UK, the project explored and quantified interactions between livelihoods and environmental change host community and refugee villages in two diverse refugee settings, Bidibidi and Kyangwali, in northern and western Uganda.

A community-based approach identified how refugees and local populations use their knowledge, skills and ecosystem resources for survival strategies and livelihoods. The scale of habitat, land cover and landscape change over 40 years was determined through analysis of remotely-sensed satellite imagery, revealing a clear reduction in ‘landscape greenness’. The Policy Briefing, Final Report, and academic article reveal the complexity of environmental impacts and the way in which local people and refugees access and use available ecosystem services. 

By combining an understanding of changes to the physical environment, and the way in which refugees and local people access and use local landscapes, the project produced a situated understanding of local community livelihoods and challenges at individual and household levels, whilst drawing attention to broader political–economic contexts that structure and influence human–environment relations. 

Project outputs

• Policy Briefing
• Final Report

Related academic article

• van Blerk, L., Hunter, J., Bamutaze, Y., Bukenya, B., Hewitson, L., Kibrigie, J., Kintu, I., Cutler, M. (2026). Exploring a Scalar Nexus Approach to Understanding Environmental Change Around Refugee Settlements in Uganda. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2026.2617553 (OPEN ACCESS). 

Qualitative participatory methods

Household surveys, in-depth interviews and cross-community participatory mapping enabled an in-depth exploration of knowledges, values, needs and practices around livelihoods and natural resource use. A pilot survey influenced the design of semi-structured interviews with 116 refugee and host community members. Participatory mapping activities were carried out with 25 groups separated by age, gender and refugee status. 30 interviews were held with stakeholders at local and inter/national levels, including government, agencies and NGOs. A settlement-scale household survey was undertaken in both locations, generating data on household composition, land and farming, livelihoods and income, and environmental use and degradation (989 households in Bidibidi, 981 in Kyangwali, with similar numbers of Ugandan host community respondents).

Earth Observation technology

A combination of land cover classification (to derive forest and land cover change), vegetation indices and a synergistic blend of SAR and optical data revealed how landscapes and around refugee settlements have changed over 40 years. 

Conclusions and recommendations

The research revealed that scales of national, regional, local and international political–economic factors drive change. Efforts to combat environmental degradation in and around refugee settlements require improved sectoral collaboration and coordination on conservation and sustainable livelihoods at the national scale. 

Policy Recommendations spanned six key areas:

1. Settlement and land-use planning.
2. Cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination on environment and livelihoods.
3. Environmental and livelihood interventions.
4. Land and natural resource use rights.
5. Community participation in forest and natural resource management.
6. Sustainable resources and landscape restoration.

The Final Report details the accompanying 14 sub-recommendations and 28 targeted action points for key stakeholders, such as government agencies and practitioners, as they seek to address challenges and facilitate change in mainstreaming environmental efforts.